SIPRI hosts discussions on emerging actors in development cooperation

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently convened two closed-door meetings to explore how non-traditional donor countries are approaching development cooperation, with a focus on peace and security programming. The aim of the events was to explore options for future cooperation between Sweden and these actors in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

On 25 September, SIPRI held the roundtable 'Finding Common Ground: Development Cooperation in Fragile and Conflict-affected Settings'. Participants, including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, joined SIPRI researchers for presentations on how Brazil, China and the Gulf States are approaching development cooperation and the potential implications for Sweden.

A follow-up workshop, 'Adapting to a Contested Landscape: Sweden's Role in Peace and Development in a Multipolar World', took place on 27 November. Building on the September discussions, the workshop focused on China, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and how to engage with them in practical terms, given their priorities in relation to development cooperation. Representatives from Swedish government agencies, research organisations, and civil society discussed different options for Sweden's future collaboration with these regional actors, including potential risks, opportunities and strategic choices. The conclusions and findings of the workshop will be shared with the Swedish Government to inform decisions about how to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing aid landscape.

SIPRI is contributing to an anthology for Sweden's Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA), on the role of China in global development, which will be launched next year. A forthcoming policy brief on China's role in international development finance will be published in early 2026.